USITC Votes to Continue Cases on Hardwood Plywood from China

WASHINGTON - The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of hardwood plywood from China that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.

All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its investigations on imports of these products, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about December 21, 2012, and its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about March 6, 2013.

The Commission's public report Hardwood Plywood from China (Investigation Nos. 701-TA- 490 and 731-TA-1204 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4361, November 2012) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after December 10, 2012, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202-205-2000, or writing to the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: Hardwood and decorative plywood (hardwood plywood) is a wood panel product made from gluing two or more layers of wood veneer to a core which may itself be composed of veneers or other type of wood material such as medium density fiberboard (MDF), particleboard, lumber, or oriented strand board (OSB). The subject product is typically made using hardwood species (e.g., oak, birch, maple, and poplar), but may also be made from softwood species or bamboo. Common uses of hardwood plywood include furniture, kitchen cabinets, architectural woodwork, floor underlayment, and wall paneling. The product is typically used in interior applications, although some hardwood plywood is made specifically for marine applications. Specifically excluded from the subject product is structural plywood, plywood made with cork faces or backs, multilayered wood flooring manufactured subject to a CVD/AD order, and plywood further worked beyond basic finishing.

Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigations: Preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty.
2. Petitioners: The Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood and its individual members:
Columbia Forest Products, Greensboro, NC; Commonwealth Plywood Co., Ltd., Whitehall,
NY; Murphy Plywood, Eugene, OR; Roseburg Forest Products Co., Roseburg, OR; States
Industries LLC, Eugene, OR; and Timber Products Company, Springfield, OR.
3. Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC: September 27, 2012.
4. Commission's conference: October 18, 2012.
5. USITC vote: November 9, 2012.
6. USITC determinations to the U.S. Department of Commerce: November 13, 2012.
7. USITC views to the U.S. Department of Commerce: November 19, 2012.
U.S. Industry:
1. Number of producers in 2011: Twenty.
2. Location of producers' plants: Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
3. Employment of production and related workers in 2011: 1851. 1/
4. Apparent U.S. consumption in 2011: $2,014 million (estimated).
5. Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2011: 66.5%.
U.S. Imports:
1. From the subject country during 2011: $707.3 million (estimated).
2. From other countries during 2011: $632.7 million (estimated).
3. Leading sources during 2011: China (in terms of both total quantity and value).
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1/As reported by 11 firms representing the majority of U.S. production.

Source: U.S. International Trade Commission

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